5 breathtaking moments from the Beyoncé Bowl halftime performance

Beyoncé lit up NRG Stadium and delivered an outstanding halftime performance during the Baltimore-Houston game on Christmas Day.

The halftime show marked the first time the Grammy-winning singer performed songs from her eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” Fans who attended the game received light-up wristbands, cementing the event as the “Beyoncé Bowl.”

The performance was another way Beyoncé used her platform to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming black artists, particularly in the field of country music. It is the biggest stage yet on which she puts her employees in the spotlight.

Here are five game-changing moments from Wednesday’s unforgettable show.

All songs:Beyoncé Bowl: Watch the setlist from the halftime performance of the Ravens-Texans game on Christmas

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Grand entrance on horseback, all in white

The megastar made a grand entrance in true Beyoncé style, riding in on horseback with a white cowboy hat and feather duster. She serenaded the crowd with her single “16 Carriages” as she walked under the stadium toward the field.

“My House” lights up the stadium

Shortly after Beyoncé took the field, she was joined by a marching band who sang “Ya Ya” as she showed off a glittery bodysuit and chaps.

During the performance, she also performed her 2023 song “My House” while fans used signs to display “My House” in the stands.

Blue Ivy appears alongside her mother

Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter was by her mother’s side during the big halftime show. Blue showed off her moves as she danced to several songs during the performance.

At one point, Blue danced hand in hand with her mother, making for an unforgettable moment.

Shaboozey, Post Malone and more join Beyoncé

The Grammy-winning singer was sure to feature artists from her eighth studio album. She was first joined by the four women who sing alongside her on “Blackbiird”.

Tiera Kennedy, Brittney Spencer, Tanner Adell and Reyna Roberts sang the Beatles cover together.

Shaboozey also performed, singing his verse on “Sweet Honey Buckin'” with Beyoncé.

Then crossover superstar Post Malone joined Beyoncé as they performed her song “Levii’s Jeans” with a truck covered in jeans as their backdrop.

Beyoncé takes to the air for a grand finale

Beyoncé ended her stellar performance with a bang. She took to the air and sang her chart-topping song “Texas Hold ‘Em” accompanied by a sign that read “Bang.”

As fans know, Queen Bey announced her halftime performance last month, and fans immediately drove up ticket sales on game day. Beyoncé called the show “A Cowboy Carter Christmas.”

Of course, Beyoncé first announced the album during a surprise Super Bowl commercial in February, when she released the singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The songs immediately took the internet by storm, as did the album upon its release. The 27-track project has also been a huge catalyst for bringing black country artists and the genre’s roots into the spotlight recently.

Before sharing the album with the rest of the world, Beyoncé opened up about the making of the five-year project and alluded to her performance at the 2016 CMA Awards.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote: “This album has been over five years in the making. It came from an experience I had years ago where I felt unwelcome… and it was very clear that I wasn’t.” But because of that experience, I delved deeper into the history of country music and studied our rich music archive.

“It is good to see how music can unite so many people around the world while amplifying the voices of some people who have dedicated so much of their lives to educating ourselves about our musical history,” she wrote. “The criticism I faced when I first got into this genre forced me to overcome the limitations placed on me. Act II is the result of challenging myself and taking the time to mix and mingle genres to create this body of work.”

Continue following USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter Caché McClay Instagram, TikTok And X as @cachemcclay.

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